FLORENCE — Kentucky's leading Republican called Gov. Paul Patton's sex scandal “a metaphor” for Democratic problems in state government, using the episode to take a political swipe Saturday at the Democrats' fall ballot.

Patton

        U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Louisville, at a Republican rally here Saturday morning, said Mr. Patton's infidelity and possible abuse of power has given the Republicans a clear issue to campaign on this fall.

        “That's a metaphor for a whole lot of problems in Frankfort, not just this past week but over the last few years,” Mr. McConnell said without offering specifics.

        “The best way to deal with that is to have a fresh start with new faces and a clean, new agenda. If (voters) want a breath of fresh air in Frankfort, the best way to do that is to elect Republican state senators this November and a Republican governor next year,” he said.

        Mr. McConnell spoke at a rally in Florence attended by much of the state's GOP and local leadership.

        The GOP holds the state Senate by a slim 20-18 margin. Democrats hold 66 of the 100 seats in the state House.

        Mr. McConnell's comments came at the end of a harrowing week for Mr. Patton and the Kentucky Democratic Party, for decades the dominant party in the state.

        Kentucky hasn't elected a Republican governor since Louie Nunn in 1967 and this scandal leaves all in state politics wondering if it may turn the balance of power over to the GOP.

        Mr. Patton, who earlier in the week denied having a sexual affair with a western Kentucky nursing home operator, tearfully admitted Friday that he lied about the affair.

        He asked for the forgiveness of his wife of 25 years, Judi Patton, his family and the people of the state.

        The woman, Tina Conner, is also suing Mr. Patton for sexual harassment, alleging he used his power as governor to target her nursing home with state inspections after she broke off the two-year affair in 1999. The governor has denied those allegations.

        GOP leaders Saturday indicated they will make Mr. Patton an issue in the fall elections.

        “How can anyone not question the character of someone who makes a vow to his wife and then goes out and cheats on her?” said Fort Wright City Councilman David Hatter, a Kenton County GOP strategist. “People are getting tired of this type of behavior from Democrats in office. We got enough of this from Bill Clinton.”

GOP leaders in town

        Mr. McConnell, fellow U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate, Fourth District Congressional candidate Geoff Davis, several county officials and candidates and a crowd of about 100 attended Saturday's rally. It marked the opening of the party's 2002 campaign headquarters.

        Mr. Patton had planned to run against Mr. Bunning in 2004.

        It is not clear now if he will.

        Asked to comment on Mr. Patton's problems, Mr. Bunning gave an emphatic “no comment.” But others were eager to talk.

        “I didn't think the governor was going to win an election against Jim Bunning anyway, so I don't know that this changes that,” said Kenton County GOP Chairman Greg Shumate.

        He called the issue “a big distraction” for Democrats running this fall. “It's going to be hard for them to stay on message,” he said.

        Women voters, and not just Republicans, will be turned off by the governor's infidelity, predicted Mr. Hatter's wife, Leslee Hatter who has managed GOP campaigns.

        “Absolutely, it's going to upset women,” said Ms. Hatter, 30.

        “Anybody in the public eye should be held to a higher standard, and this wasn't a slight indiscretion, and women are going to be turned off by somebody who isn't faithful to his wife.”

Democrats upbeat

        Leading Northern Kentucky Democrats said the scandal won't tarnish the party's candidates.

        “People realize the governor is not perfect, and I don't think it's going to hurt Democrats this fall,” said Campbell County Commissioner Dave Otto.

        Mr. Patton was critical when Bill Clinton's sex scandal was going on. “Certainly we want to send a message that we do not approve of President Clinton's morals and conduct,” Mr. Patton told the Enquirer in 2000 — just months after the affair with Mrs. Conner is reported to have ended.

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